Per Nyberg

Socio‐demographic and psychosocial factors are associated with features of the metabolic syndrome. The Women's Health in the Lund Area (WHILA) study

Aim: The aim was to analyse any associations between socio‐demographic and psychosocial factors and different features of the metabolic syndrome in a geographically well‐defined population of middle‐aged women.

Low birth weight is associated with elevated systolic blood pressure in adolescence : a prospective study of a birth cohort of 149 378 Swedish boys

Objectives To determine the association between birth weight and systolic blood pressure (SBP) in male adolescents at the age of 18 years. Design A prospective study by means of a register linkage between the Swedish Medical Birth Register and the national register for conscript testing before military service. Methods From the birth registry we collected data on birth weight, gestational age, maternal age and parity for 149 378 individuals. At conscript testing, subjects were given a physical examination, and weight, height, and mean blood pressure were recorded after 5–10 min rest. Results Mean ± SD birth weight was 3543 ± 551 g after a mean of 39.7 ± 2.0 gestational weeks. Mean ± SD blood pressure at the conscript testing was 128.8 ± 10.9/65.2 ± 10.6 mmHg. SBP, but not diastolic blood pressure, differed significantly (test for trend, P < 0.001) between birth weight strata (deciles), with a higher SBP in strata with lower birth weight. A difference in birth weight of 1000 g decreased SBP by 0.8 mmHg. This was most pronounced in subjects with a rapid growth development (n = 1057), coming from the lowest decile of birth weight and reaching to the highest decile of body mass index, in a very consistent manner. The odds ratio for being in the top decile of SBP was 1.55 (95% confidence interval 1.32–1.81) for this growth ‘catch-up’ group compared with the rest of the cohort. Conclusions Birth weight was inversely associated with SBP in a large cohort of young men in their late teens. This supports the notion of a programming effect of fetal growth retardation in utero on haemodynamic regulation in early adult life.

Factors related to outcome of neuroischemic/ischemic foot ulcer in diabetic patients

OBJECTIVES Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is an important limiting factor for healing in neuroischemic or ischemic diabetic foot ulcer. The purpose of this study was to identify factors related to healing in patients with diabetes with foot ulcers and severe PVD. METHODS Patients with diabetes with a foot ulcer, consecutively presenting at a multidisciplinary foot center with a systolic toe pressure <45 mm Hg or an ankle pressure <80 mm Hg were prospectively included, followed according to a preset program, and with the exception of specified exclusions, subjected to angiography offered vascular intervention when applicable. All patients had continuous follow-up until healing or death irrespective of the type of vascular intervention. RESULTS One thousand one hundred fifty-one patients were included. Eighty-two percent had a toe pressure <45 mm Hg and 49% had an ankle pressure <80 mm Hg. Eight hundred one patients (70%) underwent an angiography. Out of these, 63% had vascular intervention, either percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA; 39%) or reconstructive surgery (24%). Nine percent of the patients had one or more complications after angiography. PTA was multisegmental in 46% and to the crural arteries in 46%. Reconstructive surgery was distal in 51%. Age (P < .001), renal function impairment (P = .005), congestive heart failure (P = .01), number and type of ulcer (P < .001), and severity of PVD (P = .003) affected the outcome of ulcers. PTA and reconstructive vascular surgery increased the probability of healing without amputation (odds ratio [OR], 1.77 and 2.05, respectively). CONCLUSION Probability of ulcer healing is strongly related to comorbidity, extent of tissue involvement, and severity of PVD in patients with diabetes with severe PVD.

Cost of illness of adult diabetes mellitus underestimated if comorbidity is not considered

Norlund A, Apelqvist J, Bitzén P.‐O, Nyberg P, Scherstén (Swedish Council on Technology Assessment in Health Care, Stockholm; and University Hospital; and Dalby/Lund, University of Lund, Lund, Sweden) Cost of illness of adult diabetes mellitus underestimated if comorbidity is not considered. J Intern Med 2001; 250: 57–65.

Prevalence of hand eczema in an adult Swedish population and the relationship to risk occupation and smoking

Using a postal questionnaire the prevalence of hand eczema was determined in a general population of 11,798 individuals aged 20-77 years who were randomly drawn from the population records. The response rate was 78.1%. One-year prevalence of hand eczema among women varied between 1.9% and 10.8%, with the highest figure among those aged 30-39 years. The corresponding figures for men were 2.3% and 5.6%, with the highest figure among those aged 20-29 years. Lifetime prevalence varied between 5.7% and 16.7% among women and between 5.2% and 9.5% among men. Using multiple logistic regression analysis female sex (OR=1.91, 95% CI 1.47-2.47) and smoking (OR=1.35, 95% CI 1.04-1.75) were independent risk factors for reporting 1-year prevalence of hand eczema, whereas age (OR=0.99, 95% CI 0.97-0.99) was inversely related to the 1-year prevalence of hand eczema. Aggregated risk occupation or categorized occupation such as medical and nursing work, production or service were not significantly associated with 1-year prevalence of hand eczema.

Obstetric risk indicators for labour dystocia in nulliparous women: A multi-centre cohort study

BackgroundIn nulliparous women dystocia is the most common obstetric problem and its etiology is largely unknown. The frequency of augmentation and cesarean delivery related to dystocia is high although it is not clear if a slow progress justifies the interventions. Studies of risk factors for dystocia often do not provide diagnostic criteria for the diagnosis. The aim of the present study was to identify obstetric and clinical risk indicators of dystocia defined by strict and explicit criteria.MethodsA multi-centre population based cohort study with prospectively collected data from 2810 nulliparous women in term spontaneous labour with a singleton infant in cephalic presentation. Data were collected by self-administered questionnaires and clinical data-records. Logistic regression analyses were used to estimate adjusted Odds Ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) are given.ResultsThe following characteristics, present at admission to hospital, were associated with dystocia during labour (OR, 95% CI): dilatation of cervix < 4 cm (1.63, 1.38–1.92), tense cervix (1.31, 1.04–1.65), thick lower segment (1.32, 1.09–1.61), fetal head above the inter-spinal diameter (2.29, 1.80–2.92) and poor fetal head-to-cervix contact (1.83, 1.31–2.56). The use of epidural analgesia (5.65, 4.33–7.38) was also associated with dystocia.ConclusionVaginal examinations at admission provide useful information on risk indicators for dystocia. The strongest risk indicator was use of epidural analgesia and if part of that is causal, it is of concern.

Prevalence of self-reported eczema in relation to living environment, socio-economic status and respiratory symptoms assessed in a questionnaire study

BackgroundPotential links between eczema and obstructive pulmonary diseases have been postulated. Previously we have reported the prevalence of upper and lower respiratory diseases and the relation to environmental and socio-economic factors in a randomly selected adult population in southern Sweden using a postal questionnaire.In the present study we wanted to analyse the prevalence of eczema and its relation to socio-economic status, heredity factors and environmental factors in an adult population.MethodsSelf-reported eczema, upper and lower respiratory symptoms, asthma and Chronic Bronchitis Emphysema (CBE) were examined in 12,071 adults, aged 20–59 years, living in southern Sweden by using a postal questionnaire. There were comparable numbers of males and females in all age groups.Multiple logistic regression analysis (forward conditional) was applied to estimate the association between the proposed risk factors (heredity, self-reported asthma and CBE, nasal symptoms, socio-economic group, environmental factors, age, gender and smoking habits) and self-reported eczema.ResultsThe response rate was 70.1%. In all, 1240 subjects (14.6%) stated that they had eczema. In all age cohorts self-reported eczema was more frequently reported by women than by men (p < 0.05). The prevalence of self-reported eczema among the economically active population varied from 17.1% to 8.2% with the highest rates among assistant non-manual employees. However, when controlling for age, gender and risk occupation there was no association between low social position and eczema. Living close to heavy traffic (OR = 1.45, 95% CI 1.25–1.67) and living seaside (OR = 1.17, 95% CI 1.01–1.35) but not urban/suburban living was associated with eczema. Heredity of eczema (OR = 5.77, 95% CI 5.02–6.64), self reported allergic rhinitis (OR = 2.31, 95% CI 2.00–2.68), self reported asthma (OR = 1.98, 95% CI 1.56–2.51) and self reported CBE (OR = 1.42, 95% CI 1.08–1.87) were all associated with eczema.ConclusionsIn this epidemiological study we see that self-reported eczema is a common disease in an adult population especially among women. Eczema seems to be linked to environment factors, obstructive pulmonary diseases and rhinitis.

The influence of calcium and magnesium in drinking water and diet on cardiovascular risk factors in individuals living in hard and soft water areas with differences in cardiovascular mortality

BackgroundThe role of water hardness as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease has been widely investigated and evaluated as regards regional differences in cardiovascular disease. This study was performed to evaluate the relation between calcium and magnesium in drinking water and diet and risk factors for cardiovascular disease in individuals living in hard and soft water areas with considerable differences in cardiovascular mortality.MethodsA random sample of 207 individuals living in two municipalities characterised by differences in cardiovascular mortality and water hardness was invited for an examination including a questionnaire about health, social and living conditions and diet. Intake of magnesium and calcium was calculated from the diet questionnaire with special consideration to the use of local water. Household water samples were delivered by each individual and were analysed for magnesium and calcium.ResultsIn the total sample, there were positive correlations between the calcium content in household water and systolic blood pressure (SBP) and negative correlations with s-cholesterol and s-LDL-cholesterol. No correlation was seen with magnesium content in household water to any of the risk factors.Calcium content in diet showed no correlation to cardiovascular risk factors. Magnesium in diet was positively correlated to diastolic blood pressure (DBP). In regression analyses controlled for age and sex 18.5% of the variation in SBP was explained by the variation in BMI, HbA1c and calcium content in water. Some 27.9% of the variation in s-cholesterol could be explained by the variation in s-triglycerides (TG), and calcium content in water.ConclusionsThis study of individuals living in soft and hard water areas showed significant correlations between the content of calcium in water and major cardiovascular risk factors. This was not found for magnesium in water or calcium or magnesium in diet. Regression analyses indicated that calcium content in water could be a factor in the complexity of relationships and importance of cardiovascular risk factors. From these results it is not possible to conclude any definite causal relation and further research is needed.

Foreign- and Swedish-born diabetic patients : a population-based study of prevalence, glycaemic control and social position

In this study foreign- and Swedish-born individuals with diabetes mellitus were compared regarding prevalence and characteristics. In a Swedish county 1,568 patients aged 20-64 years were identified, of whom 97.4% were included (143 foreign- and 1,384 Swedish-born) in the study of medical records. There was no difference in prevalence of diabetes (1.4% (95% CI 1.2-1.7%) vs 1.5% (95% CI 1.4-1.6%)) but diagnosis at or after the age of 30 years was more common in foreign-born patients (p<0.001). They were also less often treated with insulin (p<0.001), had shorter duration of diabetes (p<0.001), were more often classified as having a low social position in Sweden (p<0.001) and less often controlled in specialized diabetes care departments (p<0.001, 18% vs 43%). There was a higher occurrence of albuminuria among foreign-born women (p<0.05). No differences were found in glycaemic control, but low social position was related to poor glycaemic control independent of being foreign- or Swedish-born, and it seems to be more important than place of birth.

Sleep and Television and Computer Habits of Swedish School-Age Children

The aim of this study was to investigate sleep, television and computer habits and enjoyment and feelings of tiredness in school of school-age children and adolescents in Sweden. An instrument found to be valid and reliable here was distributed to 3,011 children aged 6, 7, 10, 14, and 16 years. Those sleeping less than the median length of time reported a significantly lower degree of enjoyment of school. Short sleep was found to be associated with having a bedroom TV, spending more than 2 hr a day at the TV or the computer, being tired in school, and having difficulties both in waking up and in sleeping. Discussing sleep and media habits with schoolchildren and their parents regarding matters of optimal sleep and of how media habits affect sleep and learning is seen to be an important task of the school health service.